Todd Kelly, D.A.

Dr. Todd Kelly is Associate Professor of Trumpet and Director of Jazz Ensembles at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.  Dr. Kelly teaches trumpet, directs the Bradley Jazz Ensembles and Jazz Combos, teaches Jazz Improvisation, Secondary Music Methods, and serves as the advisor for the Music Business program.  Under his direction, the jazz program includes two big bands, one combo, and a year - long Jazz Improvisation sequence.  The Bradley Jazz Ensemble has performed with Mike Vax, Mike Lee, Matt Wilson, Rachael Lee, Allen Vizzutti, Ron Jones, Tom Garling, Byron Stripling, Chris Vadala, the Jeff Hamilton Trio, Wayne Bergeron, Denis DiBlasio, Kathy Kosins, and Michael Davis. In 2003 and 2006, the group performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, and they toured Italy in the summer of 2009, performing to enthusiastic audiences in Lake Como, Serremaggiore, Valdarno, Perugia, and Viterbo.

Dr. Kelly holds the Doctor of Arts degree in trumpet performance from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. While at Ball State, he was the Assistant Director of the Jazz Studies program, directing the Studio Jazz Ensemble, coordinating the Jazz Combo program, and coordinating the “Dimensions in Jazz” high school jazz festival.  He also served as Adjunct Instructor of Trumpet and Jazz at Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana.

Dr. Kelly received a Bachelor of Music Education degree with high honors from the University of Montana, and a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Northern Colorado.  His principal teachers include Lido Vizzutti, Dr. Thomas Cook, William Pfund, Paul Everett, and Bill Adam.  He spent three years working as a musician for Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise lines. From 1992 - 1994, Kelly taught grades 6 - 12 bands in Gilcrest, Colorado.

Dr. Kelly maintains a busy performing schedule in the Central Illinois area as the leader of the Todd Kelly Jazz Quintet and as a freelance jazz and classical musician.  He is the musical director of the Central Illinois Jazz Orchestra, a big band comprised of seventeen of the finest musicians from the central Illinois area. He has backed such performers as Wayne Newton, Jerry Lewis, Charo, the Fifth Dimension, Lesley Gore, and Mannheim Steamroller. His professional memberships include the International Trumpet Guild, Music Educators National Conference, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is also listed in “Who’s Who Among American Teachers.” In the spring of 2004, Dr. Kelly was given the Bradley Parents Association’s “Award of Excellence” for outstanding service to students. He is in demand throughout the Midwest as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest artist. Dr. Kelly was the conductor of the 2003 Illinois All-State Jazz Band. Recently, he has toured throughout the United States with Indian tabla artist Sandip Burman. His book, “Chet Baker: 21 Selected Solos” is available through Jamey Aebersold Jazz and ejazzlines.com.

Dr. Kelly is an artist/clinician for Conn/Selmer in Elkhart, Indiana. He is an active and enthusiastic advocate for jazz education. He and his wife Kirsten are the proud parents of two children, Connor and Maren.